V V V K | C-  V] 


WORKING  AND  PRAYING 


Y 


TOGETHER 


'53‘S 


YA 

/VC. 

.A. 

l 

\r 

r 

Published  by  the 

Foreign  Department,  National  Board  of  the 
Tonng  Women’s  Christian  Associations  of  the  IT.  S.  A. 


WORKING  AND 
PRAYING  TOGETHER 


THE  Body  without  the  Spirit  is  dead;  and,  conversely,  that  Body  in 
which  the  Spirit  dwells  is  vitalized  with  the  life  that  cannot  help 
overflowing.  It  is  only  as  we,  the  individuals,  of  this  great  Association 
are  spirit-filled  that  we  can  hope  to  render  worth-while  service  to  our 
fellow-beings.  “Now  there  are  diversities  of  gifts,  but  the  same  Spirit”; 
and  such  are  the  times  in  which  we  live  that  the  “gift”  of  each  member 
in  each  Association  is  in  demand.  “For  to  one  is  given  through  the 
Spirit  the  word  of  wisdom,  and  to  another  faith,  and  to  another  gifts  of 
healings,  and  to  another  divers  kinds  of  tongues;  but  all  these  worketh 
the  one  and  the  same  Spirit.”  It  is,  indeed,  only  through  unity  of  Spirit 
and  diversity  of  gifts  that  the  Young  Women’s  Christian  Association 
can  hope  to  accomplish  the  task  before  her — a task  as  high  as  heaven, 
as  deep  as  the  soul,  and  as  wide  as  the  world. 

The  Association  headquarters  building  in  New  York  is  increasingly 
active  in  interests  which  radiate  to  the  ends  of  the  earth;  not  only  with 
regular  programs  of  work,  but  with  new  plans  born  of  war  conditions. 
Besides  the  usual  work  in  College  and  City  there  have  been  established 
in  our  own  country  107  Hostess  Houses,  145  Club  and  Recreation  Work 
Centers,  10  Emergency  Boarding  Houses,  17  Clubs  for  Colored  Girls, 
24  Centers  for  Foreign-born  Women,  13  Industrial  Centers,  the  Bureau 
of  Social  Morality  which  has  provided  2040  lectures;  and  these  new 
branches  have  kept  a staff  of  675  Secretaries  and  Workers  steadily  busy. 
In  addition  to  this  new  work  in  the  home  land,  more  than  100  Secretaries 
are  working  in  France  and  Russia,  81  are  laying  foundations  in  the 
Orient,  and  the  field  of  South  America  is  opening. 

“T  TNITED  AMERICA”  is  the  slogan  of  the  Division  for  Foreign-born 
'-'Women.  Its  object  is  to  sustain  the  morale  of  women  who  cannot 
speak  English,  throughout  the  difficulties  accentuated  by  war;  to  alle- 
viate the  bad  conditions  from  which  their  families  suffer;  to  help  them 
appreciate  and  adopt  the  good  things  of  America  and  to  give  them  a 
chance  to  exhibit  the  skill  and  ideals  which  they  have  inherited.  There 
are  four  divisions  of  this  department:  one  for  camp  and  community 
service  for  foreign  families  of  enlisted  men;  one  for  international  infor- 
mation and  service  through  the  foreign  press  and  foreign-language 
speakers;  one  for  the  organization  of  international  institute  community 
centers  for  foreign-born  peoples,  and  one  for  reconstruction  period  work 
for  service  after  the  war. 


3 


The  Lnited  States  Government  has  requested  that  the  funds  for  war 
work  be  raised  by  a United  War  Work  Campaign.  Accordingly  the 
seven  organizations  engaged  in  war  work  are  planning  to  drive  shoulder 
to  shoulder  in  the  fall  campaign.  This  is  the  seven-fold  line:  Young 
^ omen's  Christian  Association,  Toung  Men's  Christian  Association,  War 
Camp  Community  Service,  American  Library  Association,  National 
Catholic  ar  Council,  Jewish  Welfare  Board,  Salvation  Army.  The 
budget  for  the  war  work  of  the  Young  Women’s  Christian  Association 
is  $15,000,000.  Is  it  tremendous?  Our  God  is  equal  to  it.  And  it  is 
our  privilege  to  cooperate  with  God. 

THIS  is  a period  of  rapid  growth  for  the  Canadian  Association. 

hile  undertaking  the  stupendous  task  of  war  work  they  have  not 
called  a retreat  in  other  directions.  On  the  contrary,  they  have  added  a 
secretary  for  the  western  field  and  two  for  the  foreign  field.  Mean- 
while the  work  of  the  Girls’  Department  is  advancing.  The  Dominion 
Associations  now  number  19,000  members,  with  student  work  in  all  the 
universities,  teacher  training  colleges,  boarding  schools  and  high  schools. 
In  thirty-eight  cities  and  towns  clubs,  classes,  lunchrooms  and  residences 
are  keeping  up  their  standard  of  good  work.  The  Y.  W.  C.  A.  hopes  to 
organize  several  new  Associations  and  Hostess  Houses,  and  at  the  same 
time  be  able  to  assume  its  full  share  of  responsibility  for  work  in  France. 


IT  is  difficult  to  find  words  to  express  our  feeling  for  our  sister  Associ- 
ation in  England,  the  band  of  Christian  young  women  who  have  led 
the  way  and  borne  the  heaviest  burden  of  the  War  Work.  When  Edith 
Cavell.  the  English  martyr,  was  waiting  in  her  cell  the  night  before  her 
execution  she  said  to  the  English  chaplain,  "This  I would  say — standing 
as  I do  in  view  of  God  and  Eternity — I realize  that  patriotism  is  not 
enough.  I must  have  no  hatred  or  bitterness  toward  anyone.”  Loyal  to 
her  own,  helpful  to  all.  unafraid,  loving — a typical  English  woman! 
It  is  this  fibre  in  the  Young  Women’s  Christian  Association  of  Great 
Britain  which  is  enabling  the  organization  to  increase  its  staff  and 
extend  its  service.  Their  great  concern  is  that  through  all  the  service 
rendered  the  radiance  of  Jesus  may  shine.  They  ask  us  to  join  them  in 
praying  "for  a fresh  belief  in  the  joy  and  power  of  prayer:  that  we  may 
know  howT  to  make  prayer  a real  thing  to  every  girl  whom  the  Associa- 
tion touches:  for  a like  new  joy  in  Bible  study  and  guidance  in  methods: 
that  the  Retreat  Conferences  arranged  by  the  Religious  Work  Com- 
mittee may  be  centres  of  blessing:  that  the  War  Work  at  home  and  in 
France  may  be  a witness  to  Christ,  that  the  girls  who  use  the  Blue  Tri- 
angle Huts  may  see  Him  as  the  Lord  of  all  life;  for  the  foreign  and 
Overseas  work,  that  God  will  call  the  best  of  our  young  Christian  wom- 
anhood to  this  service,  and  that  the  British  Association  may  be  ardent 
to  send  and  support  them.” 

Here  is  an  incident  showing  the  spirit  of  Association  work  in 
England.  A group  of  Association  leaders  from  America  were  being 
shown  through  a large  munitions  factory  in  England.  The  din  of  the 
machinery  was  terrific:  no  other  sound  could  compete  with  it,  yet  in  an 
alcove  stood  a piano.  "What  use  can  you  possibly  find  for  this  piano 
here?”  one  of  the  leaders  shouted  to  the  guard.  He  smiled  enigmatically. 


4 


and  she  persisted,  "What  good  is  it?  No  one  could  possibly  hear  it?*' 
Then  he  explained,  e need  it  during  an  air  raid.  We  get  the  signal, 
all  the  machinery  stops,  the  lights  go  out,  sometimes  it  is  very  dark, 
everybody  sits  quietly  at  her  place — all  but  one,  and  she  goes  to  the 
piano  and  plays.  Last  time  we  had  an  air  raid  they  all  sang  "Nearer 
My  God  to  Thee."  " He  paused  a minute,  then  he  added,  "That  piano 
is  a great  comfort  to  us.'*  The  visitors  turned  and  looked  down  the  long 
rows  of  girls  and  women  intent  at  their  work,  and  felt  that  the  courage 
of  these  British  workers  was  worthy  the  best  efforts  that  any  organi- 
zation could  give. 

That  the  Toung  Women’s  Christian  Association  is  invaluable  to 
the  women  of  England  has  been  proved  in  many  ways.  Wherever  fac- 
tory conditions  are  undergoing  changes  the  Association  is  there  to  help 
in  the  readjustment  of  the  girls,  and  in  centers  long  established  its  influ- 
ence never  wanes.  The  Government  realizes  the  Association's  success 
and  is  backing  it  up  in  all  its  efforts  to  care  for  the  physical,  mental  and 
spiritual  lives  of  the  vast  army  of  women  workers  who  are  "sticking  it 
out  in  the  factories  because  Tommy  is  sticking  it  out  in  the  trenches.” 

THE  morality  and  courage  of  the  French  women  during  the  tragedies 
this  war  is  bringing  them  have  gained  our  admiration  and  made  us 
feel  very  near  to  them.  Especially  is  this  true  since  we  are  sending  our 
manhood  to  fight  side  by  side  with  theirs.  In  the  trials  both  industrial 
and  social  which  came  with  the  war.  the  French  felt  the  need  for  help 
and  called  upon  the  American  Association.  Secretaries  were  sent  them 
and  are  continuing  to  go,  their  number  at  present  being  ninety-six. 
These  are  a strong  link  in  the  chain  of  friendship  which  binds  our  inter- 
ests to  those  of  France.  Through  the  establishment  of  social  and  recre- 
ational activities  for  munition  workers,  for  those  in  government  employ 
and  for  nurses,  the  Association  is  helping  the  womanhood  of  France 
to  preserve  its  much  needed  courage  and  strength.  Nurses,  signal  corps 
girls  and  those  connected  with  the  Red  Cross  find  a bit  of  home  in  the 
Association  foyers  and  a place  to  relax  after  the  emotional  and  physical 
strain  they  are  enduring.  The  loyal  spirit  of  France  is  expressing  itself 
a millionfold  through  its  women,  all  of  whom  from  the  poorest  peasant 
girl  to  the  woman  who  until  now  knew  nothing  but  luxury,  are  giving 
of  their  best  efforts  unstintingly.  And  what  of  the  reconstruction  period 
which  will  come  after  the  war? — the  rehabilitation  of  town  after  town, 
which  already  follows  every  retreat  of  the  invader?  The  Voung 
^ omen's  Christian  Association  will  have  its  part  in  this  service,  too. 
and  great  is  the  opportunity  then  for  consecrated  women. 

SEVEN  American  workers  were  in  Russia  establishing  club  centers  in 
Petrograd.  Moscow  and  Samara:  but  recently  accompanied  the  lega- 
tions of  the  Allies  when  they  were  forced  to  take  refuge  in  Stockholm. 
These  secretaries  are  now  eagerly  awaiting  the  first  opportunity  to 
return  to  their  work  in  Russia.  The  country  is  in  such  an  unsettled  con- 
dition that  more  than  ever  she  needs  our  spiritual  support  for  the  thou- 
sands of  women  and  girls  suffering  through  the  nation's  tragedies. 

“When  the  anchors  that  faith  has  cast 
Are  dragging  in  the  gale, 

I am  quietly  holding  fast 

To  the  things  that  cannot  fail." 


5 


r I ''HE  neutral  countries  of  Europe  afford  peculiar  opportunities  for  the 
work  of  the  Young  Women’s  Christian  Association.  Sometimes  it 
is  to  help  women  in  transit  from  one  country  to  another,  sometimes  to 
plant  that  which  has  been  uprooted,  sometimes  to  initiate  volunteer 
workers,  always  keeping  the  established  work  vigorous  and  opening  new 
opportunities.  There  is  a growing  desire  for  Bible  study  and  spiritual 
help,  a deeper  longing  for  Christian  unity  among  women. 

T^HERE  may  come  times  when  the  soul  is  so  overwhelmed  that  it  is  “too 
tired  to  think,  too  tired  to  pray.”  Perhaps  that  may  be  one  reason 
why  no  requests  have  come  this  year  from  the  Young  Women’s  Christian 
Associations  in  Austria,  Belgium,  Bulgaria,  Denmark,  Germany,  Hun- 
gary, and  Malta.  All  the  more,  then,  it  is  our  responsibility  to  carry 
their  needs,  with  ours,  to  the  Father  “who  giveth  to  all  men  liberally.” 

MANY  doors  of  opportunity  in  factory  and  business  are  beginning  to 
open  up  to  Moslem  girls  in  Africa.  They  need  safeguarding  and 
training;  they  need  Christian  poise.  The  Association  is  already  doing  a 
great  deal  and  hopes  to  press  forward.  A girls’  club  has  been  started  in 
Jerusalem.  Two  new  secretaries  have  been  sent  out  by  the  British 
Association  to  Egypt.  South  Africa  now  has  a training  center  for 
workers  and  missionaries.  Everywhere  Association  clubs  are  helping 
with  Red  Cross  work. 

UNDOUBTEDLY  very  little  organized  Christian  work  has  been  pos- 
sible in  Turkey  these  latter  days;  but  there  must  be  thousands  scat- 
tered throughout  that  country  who  have  received  the  light  of  God  and 
who  are  remembering  that  “Tho’  sundered  far  by  faith  we  meet  around 
one  common  mercy  seat.”  It  is  surely  hard  for  them  to  live  out  their 
ideals,  and  dangerous  for  them  to  give  Christian  service  to  other  women. 

AUSTRALASIA  is  responding  wonderfully  to  the  efforts  of  the  Asso- 
ciation, both  in  town  and  city.  Many  new  buildings  have  been 
erected  where  the  work  is  going  forward  enthusiastically  with  Bible 
study  classes,  lunch  and  rest  rooms,  and  classes  in  hygiene  and  physical 
training.  As  the  work  of  the  Travelers’  Aid  has  increased  many  volun- 
teer workers  have  come  forward  to  assist  the  women  and  girls,  who  are 
traveling  in  greater  numbers  than  ever  before.  The  nation-wide  inter- 
est in  the  League  of  Honour,  the  larger  summer  conferences,  the  Train- 
ing School  for  Secretaries,  the  “Australian  Women’s  Quarterly,”  the 
plans  for  opening  a Y.  W.  C.  A.  Australasian  Hut  in  France,  the  call  for 
an  Australasian  Secretary  for  Singapore,  and  the  supporting  of  a 
student  secretary  in  India  and  a city  secretary  in  China — these  are 
marks  of  the  past  year’s  advance. 

“TYELIGION  in  everything”  is  the  ideal  of  the  Honolulu  Association, 
whether  in  the  regular  routine  or  in  the  newly  organized  Patriotic 
League,  War  Work  Council,  and  Hostess  Houses.  One  thousand  a month 
is  the  record  for  club  attendance, — small  girls,  large  girls,  yellow,  brown 
and  white.  Their  activities  cover  Work,  Play,  Love  and  Worship.  The 
Hawaiian  girls  by  entertainments  raised  one  hundred  and  sixty  dollars 
for  wool  which  they  have  converted  into  socks  and  sweaters  for  soldiers. 
One  club  has  undertaken  the  education  of  a little  Chinese  orphan  girl 

6 


Miss  Elizabeth  Zachariah,  recently 
appointed  student  secretary  for  Mad- 
ras, is  the  first  Indian  woman  to  hold 
this  position. 


Probably  th  is  small  mother  now 
holds  a strand  of  yarn  and  l(nits  socks 
and  sweaters  for  her  soldier  husband 
in  France.  How  close  together  we 
feel  these  days  over  the  thought  of  a 
strand  of  yarn! 


(1)  Miss  Talfa  Kato,  graduated 
from  National  Training  School  in 
1915,  is  general  secretary  in  Tokyo. 

(2)  Miss  Lee,  graduated  from 
Tokyo  Higher  Normal  School  in  1916, 
a Chinese  member  of  the  Japanese 
Y.  W.  C.  A.,  was  given  a farewell 
party  as  she  left  for  America  to  study 
in  the  Chicago  University. 

(3)  Miss  Yuri  Walanabe,  gradu- 
ated from  Earlham  College  in  1916, 
is  student  secretary  in  Tokyo. 


in  Nanking.  In  fact,  the  Association  in  Hawaii  is  teeming  with  activity: 
the  women  of  the  Islands  are  on  tiptoe  as  their  vision  pierces  beyond 
the  blue  horizon  and  they  join  hands  with  Christian  women  the  world 
over. 


EARLY  in  the  war  the  Young  Women’s  Christian  Association  in 
India  recognized  its  duty  to  the  English  and  Australasian  nurses 
coming  there.  In  1916  the  first  Nurses’  Club  was  opened  in  Bombay, 
since  which  time  three  clubs  have  been  started  in  Mesopotamia,  where 
the  summer  temperature  reaches  130  in  the  shade,  where  mosquitoes, 
sandflies  and  other  pests  make  life  almost  unbearable  and  nerves  are 
stretched  nearly  to  the  breaking  point.  The  Nurses’  Club  with  its  piano 
and  books,  its  attractive  furnishing  and  dainty  tea  rooms,  has  been  a 
real  boon  to  many  a woman  serving  her  Empire  in  its  time  of  need.  A 
club  for  Indian  nurses  has  been  started  in  Bombay.  There,  also,  the 
Government  has  given  over  to  the  supervision  of  the  Association  three 
establishments  to  be  used  as  homes  for  women  in  Government  service. 
Bible  women  are  working  among  the  22,000  factory  girls  in  the  Bombay 
cotton  mills.  Two  secretaries  have  been  released  for  work  among  the 
soldiers,  and  military  authorities  are  asking  for  more  help.  The 
Colombo  Association  has  been  hostess  for  hundreds  of  nurses  landing 
at  that  port  and  recently  has  established  a playground  for  the  children 
in  one  of  the  poorer  districts. 

“Service”  has  taken  on  a wonderful  new  meaning  to  hundreds  of 
women  in  India.  The  war  has  brought  into  their  lives  a vision  that 
never  can  fade.  In  the  last  four  years  the  doors  into  a wider,  fuller 
life  have  swung  open  too  far  to  close  again.  India  is  a garden  of  love- 
liness choked  with  weeds.  Laborers  are  needed  who  shall  uproot  the 
cruelty  and  ugliness,  and  care  for  the  tender  plants.  “Send  us  leaders!” 
is  the  plea  from  women  of  all  communities.  Mohammedan,  Parsee, 
Sikh,  and  Christian  women  have  sent  their  men  to  fight  for  Europe’s 
freedom;  have  responded  to  the  call  of  their  Empire,  and  have  busied 
themselves  in  every  variety  of  war  work.  Not  only  do  they  need  leaders 
now,  but  when  peace  comes  an  outlet  must  be  provided  for  their  awak- 
ened minds  and  spirits,  for  they  cannot  go  back  to  the  old  life  and  ways. 
Shall  their  call  go  unheeded?  Shall  these  new  impulses  and  desires  be 
allowed  to  dissipate?  The  Young  Women’s  Christian  Association  stands 
ready  to  answer,  “Here  am  I;  send  me.” 


AND  what  of  China  during  these  days  of  world  upheaval?  That  she 
has  placed  herself  with  those  forces  which  are  seeking  to  establish 
the  rule  of  justice  on  earth  is  symbolized  by  the  five-barred  flag  of  the 
republic  which  floats  over  New  York’s  “Avenue  of  the  Allies.”  Has 
that  symbol  any  reality  behind  it  in  the  spirit  of  the  women  of  that 
great  land?  That  those  who  have  a chance  to  hear  of  how  they  may 
help  “do  their  bit”  respond  gladly  is  evidenced  by  the  group  of  fifty 
who  meet  from  week  to  week  at  the  Shanghai  Association  to  roll  band- 
ages for  the  American  Red  Cross.  Their  deftness  and  exactness  make 
the  bandages  among  the  best  that  are  turned  in.  Then  there  are  those 
college  girls  in  Peking  who  have  done  such  a splendid  piece  of  social 
service  in  “giving  a chance”  to  thirty  small  children  from  the  flooded 


8 


country  district  whose  families  had  lost  everything.  When  the  president 
of  the  college  suggested  to  the  students  that  they  might  undertake  the 
entire  responsibility  for  a group  of  refugee  children  they  responded 
most  eagerly  and  started  in  at  once  to  secure  funds  by  holding  a meeting 
to  which  outsiders  as  well  as  students  were  invited.  Their  dramatic 
powers  coupled  with  their  enthusiasm  produced  a sufficient  financial 
response  to  warrant  the  bringing  in  of  the  little  refugee  children.  They 
were  housed  in  some  buildings  just  outside  the  college  compound  and 
here  they  were  taken  care  of — body,  mind  and  spirit — by  the  college 
girls.  This  meant  the  giving  up  of  free  hours  that  would  ordinarily  he 
given  to  personal  pleasure  in  order  that  the  little  refugees  might  be 
taught  the  Chinese  equivalent  for  a b c’s,  the  necessity  for  bathing,  and 
other  equally  interesting  and  heretofore  unsuspected  joys.  When  visiting 
their  compound  in  company  with  one  of  the  college  students  it  was 
hard  to  tell  which  gladness  was  greater,  that  of  the  children  as  they 
sang  lustily  one  of  the  hymns  they  had  just  been  taught,  or  that  of  the 
“older  sister”  who  had  caught  the  joy  of  service. 

One  of  the  Chinese  secretaries  of  the  Peking  Association  gave  a 
month  to  helping  in  one  of  the  refugee  camps  and  was  so  gripped  with 
the  needs  there  that  on  her  return  she  personally  interviewed  govern- 
ment officials  and  was  the  means  of  securing  a grant  of  $5000  for  extra 
relief  in  that  camp.  In  other  Associations,  the  members  have  started 
schools  and  playgrounds  for  some  of  the  children  who  would  otherwise 
be  begging  or  quarreling  on  the  streets.  Are  these  not  evidences  of  a 
desire  to  give  of  self — the  kind  of  giving  that  makes  for  justice  and 
good  will? 

One  does  not  have  to  look  far  to  discover  unlimited  opportunities 
for  such  giving.  Make  your  way  through  one  of  the  courtyards  of  the 
factory  where  between  two  and  three  thousand  women,  of  ages  ranging 
from  twelve  or  fourteen  years  to  nearly  eighty,  are  employed  in  making 
soldiers’  garments.  They  sit  on  the  ground  as  close  together  as  their 
work  permits, — in  the  open  courts  when  it  is  warm  enough,  inside  the 
ill-ventilated  shelters  during  the  winter  months,  for  a wage  not  more 
than  eight  cents  for  a ten-hour  day.  There  are  other  factories,  too,  em- 
ploying women,  match  factories,  silk  and  cotton  factories  and  for  them 
also  must  there  be  justice.  Is  there  not  an  even  greater  challenge  than 
before  the  war  to  share  in  leading  the  movements  which  stand  for  equal 
opportunities  for  all  God’s  children,  that  there  may  not  be  the  future 
heart-breaking  need  in  China  that  exists  in  Europe  today?  The  after- 
noon sun  across  the  Avenue  of  the  Allies  strikes  with  one  shaft  the 
flags  of  the  two  greatest  republics.  They  are  working  together  for 
justice. 

THE  war  is  having  an  increasingly  marked  influence  in  the  life  of 
Japan.  Like  the  nations  of  the  West  she  is  facing  bigger  problems, 
greater  opportunities  and  larger  ideas  today  than  she  has  ever  met 
before.  In  industry  there  is  greater  activity,  tremendous  restlessness 
and  a great  factory  problem.  Six  hundred  thousand  women  in  factory 
life  without  adequate  protection  and  without  Christian  impulse  is  one 
phase  of  the  situation.  While  it  is  true  that  the  wages  of  laborers  have 
increased,  the  cost  of  living  has  risen  quite  out  of  proportion,  and  the 
recent  rice  riots  have  been  much  more  serious  than  the  papers  have  told. 
The  industrial  activity  due  to  the  Avar  is  causing  redistribution  of  popu- 


9 


lation.  Two  hundred  people  a day  are  moving  into  Osaka,  and  certain 
suburbs  of  Tokyo  have  become  huge  industrial  centres,  the  majority  of 
the  workers  women  and  girls.  Many  girls  are  leaving  home  to  go  into 
industry,  many  other  girls  and  smaller  children  are  left  alone  at  home 
while  both  parents  are  away  at  work. 

The  Young  Women’s  Christian  Association  in  Japan  is  helping  to 
solve  some  of  these  problems.  By  the  opening  of  work  in  Osaka,  Kobe 
and  Kyoto,  its  opportunity  is  increased  by  about  a million  women  and 
girls.  Two  secretaries  are  to  be  in  Kyoto  this  winter  for  language  study. 
Kobe  is  to  be  opened  by  a secretary  who  was  for  several  years  wrorking 
among  Japanese  women  in  California;  this  makes  another  link  in  the 
emigration  chain  from  Japan  through  Honolulu  to  the  West  coast  of  the 
United  States.  Everything  that  the  Association  can  do  to  prepare  Jap- 
anese girls  for  the  Western  life  will  help  cement  the  chain  of  real  friend- 
ship between  our  two  nations. 

The  Osaka  Association  was  organized  in  the  spring  of  1918  after 
preliminary  work  of  but  six  months,  with  the  Christian  “Iron  Woman 
of  Japan”  at  its  head.  The  first  public  meeting  w7as  attended  by  a thou- 
sand women  and  girls,  and  the  preparations,  including  preliminary 
scrubbing  of  the  hall,  were  all  made  by  the  new  members  of  the  board, 
some  of  whom  never  did  manual  work  at  home.  The  meeting  itself 
was  an  inspiration  and  a challenge  for  the  years  to  come.  A very  com- 
mon question  of  the  women  of  Osaka  is,  “What  is  the  Tokyo  Association 
doing?  We  can  do  that!” 

The  Tokyo  Association,  with  a much  larger  industrial  population 
than  Osaka,  is  emphasizing  for  the  immediate  future,  work  in  one  of 
its  large  suburbs,  Oji,  which  has  more  than  12,000  women  in  its  factories. 
^ hen  planning  a meeting  for  the  girls  in  one  of  the  factories  last  spring 
the  authorities  advised  the  Association  not  to  give  any  religion  in  their 
program  because  Buddhist  and  other  religious  agencies  had  tried  it  and 
the  girls  had  been  bored.  This  was  accepted  as  a challenge  and  the 
most  interesting  program  possible  w7as  worked  out,  including  the  teach- 
ing of  some  hymns  to  the  girls  and  a Christian  talk  which  lasted  forty 
minutes  and  held  the  undivided  attention  of  the  girls.  After  the  meet- 
ing games  were  played,  toward  the  end  of  wdiich  some  of  the  girls 
asked  permission  to  give  a folk-dance  which  a few7  of  their  number  years 
earlier  had  learned  and  taught  to  each  succeeding  generation  of  factory 
girls.  The  Association  people  could  hardly  tear  themselves  aw7 ay  from 
the  girls  even  after  two  hours  and  a half.  Besides  w7ork  for  girls  living 
in  the  factory  dormitories,  there  must  be  work  for  girls  living  at  home 
or  boarding,  and  welfare  work  including  day  nurseries  and  visiting 
nurses. 

Two  other  classes  of  girls  whom  the  Tokyo  Association  wants  to 
help  in  a much  larger  way  are  the  girls  in  business  and  telephone  offices 
and  the  hundreds  coming  from  the  country  to  take  up  nursing.  Their 
education  has  been  meager  and  their  ambitions  have  had  but  little 
guidance.  Often  shy  and  unsophisticated,  they  do  not  easily  find  friends 
and  homelike  surroundings.  The  Tokyo  building  is  most  effectively 
attracting  girls  and  women  to  the  Christian  fellowship  of  the  Associ- 
ation. 

A Japanese  pastor  when  asked  his  opinion  as  to  the  future  of 
Association  work  in  another  city  said  that  he  expected  little  from  it  until 
it  could  have  a building,  a visible  sign  and  seal  of  its  invitation  to  girls. 


io 


The  Yokohama  Association  has  been  developing  bigger  work  for 
the  students  in  the  government  schools,  besides  the  special  work  for 
business  girls  and  girls  preparing  to  come  to  America.  Another  line  of 
work  done  here  is  that  for  Chinese  girls  living  in  the  city,  girls  who  for 
the  most  part  have  nothing  to  occupy  themselves  with  as  they  are  merely 
living  with  their  families  employed  in  business  in  Yokohama. 

Both  Tokyo  and  Yokohama  Associations  have  had  their  share  in 
relief  work  for  the  war.  Garments  have  been  made  for  soldiers  in 
Mesopotamia,  bandage  rolling  for  Red  Cross  has  been  a regular  em- 
ployment, and  now  the  call  has  come  from  Vladivostok  for  work  for 
the  5,000  women  and  girls  who  are  refugees  from  Russia.  This  is  aside 
from  the  needs  of  Russian  women  already  in  Yokohama.  With  the 
“squads  of  American  engineers,  British  army  officers,  Red  Cross  parties, 
Russian,  Persian,  Armenian  and  Rumanian  refugees,  groups  of  Ameri- 
can Y.  M.  C.  A.  secretaries  going  to  or  returning  from  Russia,  occa- 
sionally a secretary  of  our  own  Association,”  perhaps  few  spots  not 

(1)  First  Aid  for  South  America ! This  employee  is  helping  her  company 
co-operate  with  the  United  States  in  supplying  beef  for  the  Allies. 


(2)  Red  Cross  service,  expanding  horizon,  Christian  fellowship,  these  are  the 
rungs  by  which  many  Chinese  women  are  climbing  into  the  sunlight. 


directly  in  the  war  regions  meet  with  such  variety,  and  Yokohama  catches 
the  reflex  currents  from  all  parts  of  the  world. 

If  the  Association  can  do  a good  piece  of  industrial  work  in  Tokyo, 
the  largest  industrial  centre  in  the  country;  if  it  can  show  worth-while 
work  for  girls  in  business,  for  nurses,  for  students:  the  same  work  can 
and  will  follow'  readily  in  other  large  centres.  Our  Association  commit- 
tees are  made  up  almost  wholly  of  Japanese  women.  We  have  a Jap- 
anese national  secretary,  a Japanese  general  secretary  in  Tokyo  and  in 
Yokohama,  a Japanese  student  secretary  and  other  workers — but  other 
cities  are  asking  for  the  Association,  wanting  to  do  whatever  has  already 
been  done,  and  we  must  have  a much  larger  staff  than  is  even  in  sight 
now.  The  biggest  need  is  for  leaders,  most  of  all  Japanese  leaders,  and 
without  more  American  secretaries  they  can  not  be  trained  to  take  the 
responsibility  and  the  leadership  that  is  and  w'ill  be  theirs. 

CONNECTED  with  our  own  Continent  by  nature  and  by  commerce  is 
South  America,  so  much  like  the  United  States  in  climate  and  re- 
sources, and  yet  so  different  in  customs  and  ideals.  The  problem  con- 
fronting women  is  appalling.  The  home,  as  wre  know  it,  is  rare,  women 
are  but  little  trained  in  home-craft  and  men  seek  their  amusements 
elsewhere.  Literature  and  conversation  are  often  tainted  with  false 
moral  ideas.  Spiritual  standards  are  very  much  in  need  of  correction. 
Girls  plunge  into  a life  of  business  and  pleasure  without  thought  of 
what  the  future  has  to  offer  or  require.  And  yet  they  are  not  indifferent 
to  their  own  needs;  more  and  more,  as  South  America  is  drawn  closer 
to  the  heart  of  the  world,  these  women  beyond  the  Equator  are  learning 
about  other  women  and  they  want  the  opportunities  that  have  helped 
others.  As  our  sister-continent  becomes  more  involved  in  world  trade, 
the  need  for  Christian  Association  work  there  becomes  more  impera- 
tive, the  call  for  it  more  urgent,  the  readiness  of  South  American  women 
for  cooperation  more  spontaneous.  We  have  three  secretaries  in  Argen- 
tine, but  what  are  they  among  so  many?  “We  have  a little  sister.  What 
shall  we  do  for  our  little  sister  in  the  day  when  she  shall  be  spoken 
for?” 

AND  so,  in  days  of  stress  and  agony,  the  Christian  women  of  the  world 
are  weaving  the  three-fold  cord  of  faith  divine,  hope  eternal,  and 
love  unceasing. 

As  the  pine  forest  is  overthrown  and  buried  deep  beneath  the 
broken  mountain,  and  under  the  load  sinks  down  until  all  the  billows 
and  waves  have  gone  over  it;  so  the  nations  are  suffering  under  the 
avalanche  of  war;  but  the  waters  wash  away  the  earth  and  decay  and  the 
golden  sunshine  absorbed  by  the  dark  pine  forest  floats  again  to  the  sur- 
face in  the  form  of  translucent,  glowing  amber.  So  it  will  be  with  the 
world  when  the  war  is  over.  “Wherefore  we  faint  not:  but  though  our 
outward  man  is  wasting  away,  yet  our  inward  man  is  renewed  day  by 
day.  For  our  light  affliction,  which  is  for  the  moment,  worketh  for  us 
more  and  more  an  eternal  weight  of  glory;  while  we  look  not  at  the 
things  which  are  seen,  but  at  the  things  which  are  not  seen;  for  the 
things  which  are  seen  are  temporal;  but  the  things  which  are  not  seen 
are  eternal.  Yea,  I reckon  that  the  sufferings  of  this  present  time 
are  not  worthy  to  be  compared  with  the  glory  which  shall  be  revealed  to 
us-ward.” 


